"The lead single for the album, and for the band in general, 'Dawned On Me' is a chugging, buzzing, eminently hooky power-pop tune that sounds like being submerged in harmonious distortion... a great debut." Stereogum
"As Sunshine Convention, Brooklyn’s Jake Whitener has a familiar and pleasing sound–fuzzy, lo-fi, loud, but above all massively pop-friendly. Nevertheless, The Sunshine Convention doesn’t feel played out at all due to Whitener’s sharp songwriting skills, the album’s excitable energy, and the fact that there’s still plenty of room to explore in the space of these genre labels. Whitener is fluent in everything from lo-fi Guided by Voices to early Elephant 6 to Sparklehorse to Yo La Tengo, and he can turn any of these starting points into loud, hooky indie rock anthems with ease over the course of a debut record that hits the ground running." Rosy Underground (#27 Album of the Year)
"Sunshine Convention’s self-titled debut album, certainly feels like sunshine, with buzzy guitar tones, upbeat melodies and catchy distorted hooks. Jake Whitener, a Brooklyn resident, has created an array of guitar-heavy, ear-worm alternative pop-rock songs that deserve to be played in a convertible heading for the beach. This album is meant to introduce Sunshine Convention to the world, a brand new project. It’s got elements of surf rock and shoegaze, with references to 60’s and 70’s psychedelic rock. Despite touching on dark themes, the music is hopeful, reminiscent at times of a happier, surfer-ier version of Daniel Johnston (“A Soft Bullet In” and “Sister Judy”). But when that first song, “Penny Lids”, ends and becomes the second song on the album, “The Spark,” I hear a charging guitar riff, I hear a little Wilco, a little more darkness. But the psychedelic rock comes through in the harmonizing guitar parts. It’s still so sunny, the vocals chanting together, a nursery rhyme for beach goers and happy people who simultaneously have a feeling of melancholy constantly bubbling under the surface, waiting for the other shoe to drop." - The Deli
"The tip on this new record came from my pal Rich who thought I’d like it and he was right... The first thing I noticed while listening was echoes of GBV (think Bee Thousand or Alien Lanes) as well as some Cotton Mather and even some early Superchunk. Anyway, the songs are definitely there. …The first 3 or 4 definitely add large chunks of fuzz and distortion to the proceedings (especially the great “Pilot," I love the hook in that song) while he gets a bit sentimental on the, dare I say, almost tender “A Soft Bullet In” (see what he did there?). Later on “Sister Judy” twists and turns in the fast lane and “101” is a nice little bolt of fresh lightning... We’d all like to hear more." Dagger Zine
"A nostalgic, 60s and 70s psychedelic rock encases your headspace as soon as you press “play” on a Sunshine Convention song. Moments of lazy surf rock and whirring guitar really make both singles have widespread appeal, from the realistic (and often sarcastic) burnouts to the hopeful idealists and everyone in between." Imperfect Fifth
Sunshine Convention is the primary musical project of Brooklyn's Jake Whitener. 3 years ago, Whitener quietly began writing dozens and dozens of songs in the privacy of his room amassing nearly 300 song ideas during the process. Now, he has whittled that collection of shapeless ideas through 4-tracks, garageband, and voice memos down to a collection of 12 loud, lo-fi pop tracks which he released in July.
The project has since grown into collective, consisting of singer-songwriters Kira Skye, Ben Richmond (Jobelin), Mario Schoening (Lokomoko), and Sam Haw.
Thank you for giving it a chance.
jcw
credits
released July 21, 2023
written, performed, mixed by J. Whitener
drums by Zak, Gavin, and Aidan
recorded on Garageband and Tascam 424
Thanks: kira, sam, ben, mario, kenny, gabe, izzy, bob, bob, bob, dan, john, adrian, jess, alaska, fam
license
Some rights reserved. Please refer to individual track pages for license info.
This band released one of the best albums of 2023 hands down. I keep coming back to it over and over again and hearing new textures, melodies, and sonics. SUPER catchy and full of life Sunshine Convention
This album by my best friend Kenny still moves and inspires me. His lyrics manage to evoke such vivid imagery of warm summer nights, quiet neighborhoods, and cricket blanketed evenings. Sunshine Convention
supported by 4 fans who also own “The Sunshine Convention”
Joy Division vibes with a strong Irish personality. Can't stop listening to A Hero's Death, I Don't Belong and Love is the Main Thing. One of the best album of 2020. danss_85
An easy-to-love combination of emo and jangle pop, the first full album from Spirit Night in eight years feels bathed in a golden glow. Bandcamp New & Notable Aug 8, 2023
